Starhotels Du Parc

The people at this elegant older hotel were very friendly and tried to help, and the stay itself was nice. It’s a little outside town, though not far. I was told parking would be 15 Euros a day, but somehow the charge came to $48 for two days. On the second evening, a power blip around 8 PM took out the television. It never came back, and apparently the whole property was affected. Next time I’m in Parma, I’ll most likely look elsewhere.

The rooms were lovely, and I felt for the dining room staff, who were trying their best while dealing with too few people for the number of guests. The kitchen let them down, though: the risotto was lukewarm and the grilled vegetables cold. I was travelling with an Insight Vacation tour, and our group was made to feel second rate while the other tour group got a much nicer area. After being ripped off at lunchtime in central Parma, this dinner fiasco was the last straw. The hotel management needs a swift kick up the backside. I wouldn’t recommend Parma or this hotel to anyone.

Large rooms in a nice retro-style hotel, and the centre is within walking distance. There are USB 5V 2A outlets around the bed. Breakfast costs less if you pay for it in advance when booking.

The hotel itself is okay, if a bit run down. Reception wasn’t very friendly, and they don’t volunteer much information unless you ask. The parking setup felt like part of a scammy practice: free spaces are limited, and the garage seemed shady and unsafe. It costs 15 euros a night, but apparently you pay more if reception hasn’t validated your ticket. Nobody told me that. Feeling scammed makes it hard to give Hotel du Parc a good rating.